Collapsible frame device

ABSTRACT

A collapsible frame device and method of packing vehicles in a transport container is disclosed. The frame device comprises a base and upper and lower vehicle support members associated with the base for supporting at least two vehicles. In the erected configuration of the device, the vehicle support members are horizontally and vertically spaced from one another. The support members are collapsible onto the base in a substantially flat position.

This invention relates to a collapsible frame device suitable forpacking vehicles in a transport container. The invention also relates toa method of packing vehicles in a transport container.

When packing motor vehicles in transport containers such as shippingcontainers, at least some of the vehicles are usually provided in aninclined position relative to the container floor to allow the maximumamount of vehicles to be fitted into the container.

In order to pack two motor vehicles into a standard six meter shippingcontainer the one vehicle is usually provided in an inclined position inthe container with one end thereof located near the floor of thecontainer and the other end provided near the roof of the container. Thesecond vehicle is usually provided in a substantially horizontalposition, parallel to the container floor, partly underneath the firstvehicle. The same method may also be used to pack for example, fourvehicles into a standard twelve meter shipping container.

The frame devices used to pack vehicles in a transport container areusually bulky and take up a lot of space when they have to betransported back after use.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a framedevice suitable for packing vehicles in a transport container whichframe device is collapsible allowing it to take up relative little spacewhen transported back after use. The arrangement is preferably such thatthe frame device can be erected and collapsed with relatively littleeffort.

According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible framedevice suitable for packing vehicles in a transport container having atleast a floor and a wall structure, the frame device comprising a basewhich in use rests on the container floor; a first vehicle support meansassociated with the base for supporting a first vehicle in an inclinedraised position relative to the base, the first vehicle support meanscomprising a lower vehicle support member and an upper vehicle supportmember, the support members in use in the erected configuration of thedevice being horizontally and vertically spaced from each other in orderthat the lower vehicle support member is relatively close to the baseand that the upper vehicle support member is relatively high from thebase; the lower and upper vehicle support members being collapsible ontothe base to be located substantially flat onto the base in the collapsedconfiguration of the device; the arrangement being such that in theerected configuration of the device the device provides a space toreceive a second vehicle at least partly beneath the first vehiclesupport means.

In this specification the term "vehicle" may in addition to its normalmeaning also include a vehicle in semi knock-down form or a partlyassembled vehicle.

The first vehicle support means may also include a ramp means releasablyconnectable to the upper and lower vehicle support members to supportthe first vehicle thereon in an inclined raised position in the erectedconfiguration of the device. This vehicle will normally comprise awheeled vehicle.

Alternatively, mounting brackets may be provided to mount a vehicle insemi-knock down form or in a partly assembled form to the lower andupper vehicle support members.

The base may comprise a generally rectangularly shaped configurationdefining two opposing long sides and two opposing short ends. The basemay be in the form of a frame.

The base may be provided with a number of wheels or rollers or the likewhereupon the base in use slides.

The lower and upper vehicle support members may each comprise across-bar which in use extends transversely across the base from oneside to the other side; and two substantially upright members which inthe erected configuration of the device extend upright from the base onopposite sides thereof in use to engage the cross-bar towards oppositeends thereof thereby in use supporting the cross-bar in an elevatedposition from the base.

Each cross-bar may be releasably secured to the upright members.Preferably each cross-bar includes two projections which projecttransversely therefrom and which projections are telescopicallyassociated with the upright members to connect them to each other.

An upright member from the lower support member and an upright memberfrom the upper support member located on one side of the base may beconnected to each other via a connecting member extending transverselybetween the said upright members preferably along the base of thedevice. The upright members may in the erected configuration of thedevice be connected to the base via the upright connecting member.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention an upright member from thelower support member and an upright member from the upper support memberlocated on one side of the base may be separate from each other. Thedistance between them may be adjustable.

The upper and lower vehicle support members may be collapsible onto thebase by folding them onto the base.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the two substantially uprightmembers of each support member are folded towards each other onto thebase. Preferably, the two substantially upright members of each supportmember are folded towards each other folding along lines extending alongor parallel to the opposing long sides of the base where the basecomprises a generally rectangular configuration defining two opposinglong sides and two opposing short ends.

The upright members of the support members may be hingedly attached tothe base.

The ramp means may comprise a pair of ramp members each ramp membercomprising an elongate member which in the erected configuration of thedevice is releasably attachable to the upper and lower vehicle supportmembers.

The ramp means may be adapted in use to allow a vehicle to be driventhereon in the erected configuration of the device.

The frame device may also include a second vehicle support means forsupporting a second vehicle on the base in the space provided at leastpartly below the ramp means in the erected configuration of the device.

The second vehicle support means may comprise a pair of tracks securedor securable to the base.

The second vehicle support means in use preferably supports the secondvehicle in position generally parallel to the base.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided acollapsible frame device suitable for packing vehicles in a transportcontainer having at least a floor and a wall structure, the frame devicecomprising an elongate base defining two opposing long sides, which basein use rests on the container floor; a first vehicle support meansassociated with the base for supporting a first vehicle in an inclinedraised position relative to the base, the first vehicle support meanscomprising a lower vehicle support member and an upper vehicle supportmember, the support members in use in the erected configuration of thedevice being horizontally and vertically spaced from each other in orderthat the lower vehicle support member is relatively close to the baseand that the upper vehicle support member is relatively high from thebase; the lower and upper vehicle support members being collapsible ontothe base in the collapsed configuration of the device by folding themonto the base along two lines each line extending along or parallel to along side of the base; the arrangement being such that in the erectedconfiguration of the device the device provides a space to receive asecond vehicle at least partly beneath the first vehicle support means.

The first vehicle support means may also include a ramp means connectedor connectable to the upper and lower vehicle support members to supportthe first vehicle thereon in an inclined raised position in the erectedconfiguration of the device.

The invention also relates to the use of a frame device as describedhereinabove for packing vehicles in a transport container.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided amethod of packing vehicles in a transport container comprising the stepsof:

providing a frame device as described hereinabove in an erectedconfiguration at least partly outside a transport container;

providing two vehicles on the frame device, one vehicle on the firstvehicle support means and the other on the base at least partly beneaththe first vehicle support means; and

moving the frame device with the vehicles thereon into the container.

The one vehicle may be driven onto the ramp means and preferably theother vehicle is also driven onto the frame device.

Without thereby limiting the scope of the invention and by means ofexample only, embodiments of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the frame device according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame device of FIG. 1 in itserected and assembled configuration;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1 in its collapsedconfiguration;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of two vehicles loaded onto thedevice of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the arrangement of FIG. 4 beingloaded into a container;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side view of the arrangement of FIG. 4 loadedinto a container;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative frame deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the frame device of FIG. 7 in itserected and assembled configuration;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an upright member of the lower vehiclesupport member of the device of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of part of one end of the base of thedevice of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an attachment formation on the deviceof FIG. 7.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference numerals are used todenote corresponding parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6 there is provided a collapsible framedevice 10 suitable for packing vehicles 11 and 12 into a transportcontainer 13. The container 13 comprises a floor 13.1, a wall 13.2 aroof 13.3 and an opening 13.4 which is closeable by means of a door orthe like.

The frame device 10 comprises a base 14 which in use rests on thecontainer floor 13.1. A first vehicle support means associated with thebase 14 is provided for supporting a first vehicle 11 in an inclinedraised position relative to the base 14 is also provided. The firstvehicle support means comprises a lower vehicle support member 15 and anupper vehicle support member 16, the members in use in the erectedconfiguration of the device 10 FIG. 2! being horizontally and verticallyspaced from each other. The lower vehicle support member 15 isrelatively close to the base 14 and the upper vehicle support member 16is relatively high from the base 14 and in use they support a vehicletowards opposite ends of the vehicle to provide it in an inclined raisedposition. The support members 15 and 16 are also collapsible onto thebase to be located substantially flat onto the base in the collapsedconfiguration of the device 10 FIG. 3!. A ramp means in the form of apair of ramp members 17 are releasably connectable to the upper andlower vehicle support members 15 and 16 respectively to extend betweenthem. A second vehicle support means 18 is also provided for supportinga second vehicle 12 in a horizontal position relative to the base 14 ina space provided by the device 10 partly beneath the ramp members 17 andthe first vehicle 11.

The base 14 comprises a generally rectangularly shaped frame. The framecomprises two opposing long side members 14.1 and two opposing short endmembers 14.2 extending between the long side members 14.1.

Additional cross members 14.3 are provided to extend between the sidemembers 14.1. The base 14 is adapted in use to fit into a standard sixmeter shipping container 13.

The base 14 is further provided with a number of wheels 14.4 whereuponthe base 14 in use rides. Locating formations 14.5 are also provided onthe base 14 to enhance positioning of the upper and lower supportmembers 15 and 16 onto the base 14.

The lower support member 15 comprises a cross-bar 15.1 which in useextends across the base 14, from one side member 14.1 to the other, andtwo substantially upright members 15.2 extending upright from the base14 on opposite sides thereof in the erected configuration of the device10, that is upright from opposite side members 14.1 of the base 14. Inthe erected configuration of the device 10 the upright members 15.2engage the cross-bar 15.1 on opposite ends thereof to support it in anelevated position relative to the base 14. The cross-bar 15.1 includestwo projections 15.3 projecting transversely therefrom, whichprojections 15.3 are telescopically associated with the upright members15.2 to connect them releasably to each other. Two braces 15.4 supportthe upright members 15.2.

The upper support member 16 also comprises a cross-bar 16.1, two uprightmembers 16.2, two projections 16.3 and braces 16.4 and the arrangementis the same as described for the lower support member 15. In additionbraces 16.5 are provided to provide strength to the cross-bar 16.1.

Each pair of upright members 15.2 and 16.2 located on one side of thebase 14 are connected to each other via a connecting member 19 extendingtransversely between the said two upright members 15.2 and 16.2. In theerected configuration of the device the upright members 15.2 and 16.2are connected to the base 14 via the connecting member 19.

The ramp members 17 are releasably secured to the vehicle supportmembers 15 and 16. Channel members 17.1 provided at opposite sides ofeach ramp member 17, which channel members 17.1 in use hook over thecross-bars 15.1 and 16.1 respectively.

The second vehicle support means 18 comprises a pair of tracks securedto the base 14.

In use two fully built-up vehicles 11 and 12 may be provided on thedevice as shown in FIG. 4 outside of the container. The first vehicle 11may be driven onto the ramp members 17, by providing a pair ofadditional ramp members not shown! to extend from the ends of the rampmembers 17 supported on the cross-bar 15.1, to the ground level. Afterdriving the vehicle 11 onto the ramp members 17 the additional rampmembers may be removed. The second vehicle 12 may also be driven ontothe tracks 18. Either the vehicle 11 or the vehicle 12 may be providedfirst onto the device 10.

The device 10 may be provided on a trolley 20 (or alternatively apallet) which is then pushed against a transport container 13 as shownin FIG. 5. The device 10 with vehicles 11 and 12 are then pushed toslide on its wheels 14.4 into the container 13 as shown in FIG. 6.

Alternatively the device 10 with vehicles 11 and 12 thereon may beprovided directly on a support surface and the container floor 13.1 maybe provided on the same level as the support surface. The ramp device 10may then be slid into the container 13.

In stead of the fully built-up vehicles 11 and 12, semi-knock downvehicles not shown! may be secured onto the device 10. In such a casethe ramps 17 are removed and mounting means not shown! is provided tomount the first vehicle body onto the cross-bars 15.1 and 16.1.

To collapse the device 10 the cross-bars 15.1 and 16.1 are removed fromthe upright members 15.2 and 16.2 respectively and placed onto the base14 as shown in FIG. 4. The upright members 15.2 and 16.2 are then foldedonto the base towards each other as shown in FIG. 4 by rotating themabout the connecting members 19. In use a number of collapsed devices 10may be stacked onto each other. In this way a number of collapseddevices 10 can be transported in a single container to reduce transportcosts.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 11, an alternative collapsible frame device70 is provided which operates basically the same as the device 10.

The frame device 70 comprises a base 71 and a first vehicle supportmeans associated with the base 71 for supporting a first vehicle notshown! in a inclined raised position relative to the base 71. The firstvehicle support means comprises a lower vehicle support member 72 and anupper vehicle support member 73, the members in use in the erectedconfiguration of the device 70 FIG. 8! being horizontally and verticallyspaced from each other. The lower vehicle support member 72 isrelatively close to the base 71 and the upper vehicle support member 73is relatively high form the base 71. The support members 72 and 73 arealso collapsible onto the base 71 to be located substantially flat ontothe base 71 in the collapsed configuration of the device 70 not shown!.A ramp means in the form of a pair of ramp members 74 are releasablyconnectable to the upper and lower vehicle support members 72 and 73respectively. A second vehicle support means 75 in the form of a pair oftracks 75 is also provided for supporting a second vehicle not shown! onthe base 71 in a horizontal position relative thereto in a spaceprovided by the device 70 partly beneath the ramp members 74 and thefirst vehicle not shown! supported thereon.

The base 71 comprises a generally rectangular shaped frame which islongitudinally receivable in a shipping container not shown!. The base71 comprises two opposing long side members 71.1 and two opposing shortend members 71.2 and 71.3 respectively extending between the long sidemembers 71.1. Additional elongate members 71.4 are provided whereto thetracks 75 are mounted. Additional short members 71.5 extend between theinner additional elongate member 71.4. Attachment members 71.6 extendbetween the outer additional elongate member 71.4 and the long sidemembers 71.1. The members 71.2, 71.5 and 71.6 are provided slightlyraised from a support surface whereupon the members 71.1 and 71.4 in userests to reduce friction when the base 71 is in use slid on a supportsurface in a direction along the members 71.1 and 71.4. FIG. 10 showsthe attachment for the short end member 71.2 to the members 71.1 and71.4 In this embodiment of the invention the base 71 is not providedwith wheels!.

The base 71 also includes engagement formations 71.7 in the form oftubular members engageable by an apparatus such as a fork-lift to liftthe unloaded device 70, for example, when stacking after use. A support71.8 is provided between the engagement formations 71.7.

An attachment formation 71.9 FIGS. 7 and 11! in the form of an eyeformation is provided on the short end member 71.2. In use the eyeformation 71.9 may be used to engage the device 70 when for examplepulling it out of a shipping container. For example, a shackle or thelike attached to a cable may be provided through the eye formation 71.9and the cable may then be pulled to pull the device 70 out of thecontainer.

The lower support member 72 comprises a cross-member 72.1 which in useextends across the base 71 from the one long side member 71.1 to theother. Two substantially upright members 72.2 extend upright from thebase 71 on opposite sides thereof in the erected configuration of thedevice 70, that is upright from opposite side members 71.1 of the base71. In the erected configuration of the device 70, the upright members72.2 engage the cross-member 72.1 on opposite ends thereof to support itin an elevated position relative to the base 71.

The cross-member 72.1 includes a cross-bar 72.6 and two projections 72.3projecting transversely therefrom, which projections 72.3 aretelescopically associated with the upright members 72.2 to slide intothem thereby to connect them releasably to each other. The cross-member72.1 further includes three leg members 72.4 which in the erectedconfiguration of the device 70 rests on the base 71 to provide stabilityto the lower support member 72. Additional stabilizing members 72.5 arealso provided on the cross-members 72.1.

Each upright member 72.2 is mounted on a base member 72.7 FIG. 9!. Thebase member 72.7 extends through tubular members 72.8 thereby hingedlyattaching the upright member 72.2 on the base 71 allowing the uprightmember 72.2 to be provided in an upright position as shown in FIG. 9 orto fold down onto the base 71 by folding along a line extendinglongitudinally through the base member 72.7. The folding action isindicated by arrow A. The base member may also slide to and fro throughthe tubular members 72.8 as indicated by the arrow B to allow thedistance between the lower support member 72 and the upper supportmember 73 to be adjusted. A locking means in the form of a locking pin72.9 in use received through apertures 72.10 provided in a tubularmembers 72.8 and apertures 72.11 provided in the base member 72.7 isprovided to arrest the base member 72.7 from sliding through the tubularmembers 72.8 in the direction of arrow B. Each upright member 72.2 isalso provided with a brace 72.12 extending from the base member 72.7 tothe upright member 72.2.

The upper support member 73 is similar in construction and operation asthe tower support member 72 and also includes a cross-member 73.1 andtwo substantially upright members 73.2. The cross member 73.1 includes across-bar 73.3 and two projections 73.4 for in use receiving thereinspigots 73.5 on the upright members 73.2 to releasably connect thecross-member 73.1 to the upright members 73.2. Braces 73.6 extendbetween each projection 73.4 and the cross-bar 73.3.

Each upright member 73.2 is also mounted on a base member 73.7 which ishingedly and slidingly attached to the base 71 via tubular members 73.8in a similar manner as described for the lower support member 72.However, in this case no locking pin and holes are provided. Eachupright member 73.2 also includes a brace 73.9.

Each ramp member 74 comprises two angle-iron members 74.1 withcross-bars 74.2 extending between them. Each ramp member 74 alsoincludes channel members 74.3 on opposite sides thereof which in usehook over the cross-bars 72.6 and 73.3 respectively to releasably securethe ramp member 74 to the vehicle support members 72 and 73.

Each track 75 on the base 71 comprises of cross-bars 75.1 extendingbetween the members 71.4.

Additional ramp members not shown! may, in the erected configuration ofthe device 70, be attached to the lower ends of the ramp members 74 toallow a vehicle to be driven up onto the ramp members 74.

The device 70 may be used in a similar way as the device 10 to loadvehicles into a transport container.

Eye formations 76 are provided on the device 70 for securing thevehicles not shown! to the ramp device 70.

To collapse the device 70, the ramp members 74 are removed andthereafter the cross-members 72.1 and 73.1. The upright members 72.2 and73.2 are then folded onto the base.

It will be appreciated that many variations in detail are possiblewithout thereby departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible frame apparatus suitable for packing vehicles in a transport container, comprising:a) a rectangular base capable of supporting at least two vehicles; b) a collapsible lower support member which in the upright position comprises two substantially upright members and a cross-bar which extends transversely across the base; c) a collapsible upper support member which in the upright position is connected to the base and extends vertically higher than the lower support member, the upper support member comprising two substantially upright members and a cross-bar which extends transversely across the base; d) a first pair of ramps connected between the upper and lower support members such that the ramps support a first vehicle in an inclined raised position relative to the base; e) a second pair of ramps attached to the base to support a second vehicle in a position parallel to the base and at least partially beneath the first vehicle; and f) the lower and upper support members being collapsible onto the base into a substantially flat position.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first pair of ramps is detachably connected to the upper and lower support members.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one upright member is hingedly connected with the base.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising wheels cooperating with the base such that the base can be rolled into and out of a transportation container.
 5. A collapsible frame apparatus suitable for packing vehicles in a transport container, comprising:a) a rectangular base; b) a lower support member connected to the base comprising a cross-bar which extends transversely across the base and which is telescopically associated with two substantially upright members hingedly connected with the base to support the cross-bar in a position elevated from the base; c) an upper support member connected to the base and extending vertically higher than the lower support member, the upper support member comprising a cross-bar which extends transversely across the base and which is telescopically associated with two substantially upright members hingedly connected with the base, to support the cross-bar in a position elevated from the base; d) a first pair of ramps detachably connected between the upper and lower support members such that the ramps support a first vehicle in an inclined raised position relative to the base; e) a second pair of ramps attached to the base to support a second vehicle in a position parallel to the base and at least partially beneath the first vehicle; and f) the lower and upper support members being collapsible onto the base into a substantially flat position.
 6. A method for loading vehicles into a container for transportation, comprising:a) providing a collapsible apparatus for supporting at least two vehicles, comprising:(i) a base capable of supporting at least two vehicles, having wheels thereon; (ii) a collapsible lower support member which in the upright position comprises two substantially upright members and a cross-bar which extends transversely across the base; (iii) a collapsible upper support member which in the upright position is connected to the base and extends vertically higher than the lower support member, the upper support member comprising two substantially upright members and a cross-bar which extends transversely across the base; (iv) a first pair of ramps connected between the upper and lower support members such that the ramps support a first vehicle in an inclined raised position relative to the base; (v) a second pair of ramps attached to the base to support a second vehicle in a position parallel to the base and at least partially beneath the first vehicle; and (vi) the lower and upper support members being collapsible onto the base into a substantially flat position; (b) wheeling a first vehicle into an inclined position on the upper support member; (c) wheeling a second vehicle onto the lower support member; and (d) transporting the base containing the first and second vehicles into a transport container.
 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the collapsible apparatus is assembled from a collapsed position by:(a) raising two pairs of upright members hingedly connected to the base, from a position substantially parallel to the base to a position substantially perpendicular to the base; (b) connecting the cross-bars to each pair of the upright members to form the upper and lower support members; (c) connecting the first pair of ramps to the upper and lower support members, in an inclined position and at a transverse distance which will support the wheels of a vehicle. 